Latest news with #LakeBohinj
CNA
2 days ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Discovering Ljubljana's Hidden Charms
In 'Destination Anywhere', show producer Vaisali Prabhakaran speaks with Rachel Alexa Wong, a travel content creator who shares her insights on Slovenia's charming capital, Ljubljana. Known for its dragons, castles, and riverside charm, the city is rich in history and architecture. Rachel takes us beyond the tourist trail, from iconic spots like Dragon Bridge and Ljubljana Castle to hidden gems like local-favourite restaurant Julija and nearby alpine escapes such as Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj. She also offers tips for first-time visitors and highlights what makes Slovenia a fairytale destination worth discovering.
Times
11-06-2025
- Times
Love wild swimming? Wait till you try it in this tiny, beautiful country
I almost wish I didn't have to tell you anything about my swimming trip to Slovenia. Part of me wants to keep it to myself so that nobody else ever discovers it. There was the startling beauty of Ukanc, a pale sandy beach on the bank of Lake Bohinj, a clear blue body of water under the Julian Alps. And the Sum waterfall in Vintgar Gorge that left my skin so soft I couldn't stop stroking it. Then there was the Jezersko Valley near the Austrian border where I swam in a lake that was the shape of a heart. That's just a snapshot of what Slovenia has to offer wild swimmers. With its clean, turquoise waters and dramatic alpine landscape, this eastern European country is a paradise for those who like to take a dip. Hikers and skiers, foodies and spa fans have long been coming, but I can't be the first wild swimmer who has spotted the potential of its 1,200 or so lakes and rivers. In fact, there are dedicated holidays for swimmers here, including those run by SwimTrek, while other tour operators, such as FlashPack and WeRoad, incorporate swimming into their packages. But it's easy enough to arrange a tour yourself, so I booked a rental car and three hotels in different areas that would give me access to several swim spots that appealed most. • Read our full guide to Slovenia Admittedly, I am more of a fairweather swimmer, mainly going to Hampstead Heath ponds in London in the warmer months, so it was with some trepidation that I committed to an entire holiday focused on being submerged. But as anyone who does it regularly can attest, nothing makes you feel more alive or more grounded than swimming in natural waters — especially while surrounded by mountains. Along with me for the ride was my friend Ally, a keen swimmer who'd come with me on a previous trip to Slovenia's coast in 2018. I'd seethed with envy when friends who'd stayed longer told me how incredible it was to swim in Lake Bled, the vast blue lake beneath the Julian Alps with a tear-shaped island in the middle, so I'd sworn to return. Ally came armed with wetsuits, swim hats and safety floats to tow. With just a few bikinis and a towel in my hand luggage, I realised we were approaching this trip from somewhat different experience levels. From Ljubljana, we set off northwest to Bled for our first swim. Grajsko Kopalisce is the lake's dedicated bathing zone on the eastern side, and was pretty crowded when we arrived. But jumping straight in to cool off after our flight felt like the perfect start to the trip. We stayed a few hours before moving on to our far less touristy next stop, 25 minutes' drive west, at Lake Bohinj. This is the largest natural lake in Slovenia, covering 790 acres within the Triglav National Park, which centres around the country's highest peak. • This charming capital is a perfect — and affordable — city break You can swim anywhere in the lake but our favourite spot was the tiny village of Ukanc, for its jaw-dropping view of the mountains. Near the shore was a lovely campsite, Camp Bohinj, that we wished we were staying at, though we could still make use of the toilets, showers and a restaurant serving delicious pizzas for £12 and beers at £3 a pop ( This was at the cusp of the summer season at the start of May, so there weren't many swimmers around. The water was bracing — we estimated it at around 12C — though it creeps up to 20C later in the summer. Ally managed 25 minutes' swimming around the perimeter while I mostly splashed about. Afterwards we strolled into the Triglav park, making our way up through the forest to Savica, a 78m-high waterfall. It isn't swimmable (the water isn't accessible from the viewpoint) but we did manage to dip in the emerald green river, Sava Bohinjka, which ran from the falls into the lake, though this was much colder, a-few-seconds-in-the-water-before-you-start-squealing-like-a-piglet-cold, providing more of a plunge than a swim. We stayed nearby at the eco-friendly Hotel Bohinj, where rooms have balconies overlooking the lake, and there was an impressive spa with an outdoor whirlpool, Turkish and Finnish saunas (naked ones, as is the tradition). Retreating there after a day of hiking and swimming was a real treat. • 33 of the best holidays around the world for your wish list Our next stop was the most remote: the Jezersko Valley, inhabited by just 668 people and surrounded by the snow-topped summits of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Signs dotted around the valley encourage good behaviour from visitors — 'On Jezersko: we always greet when we meet someone, we love and appreciate peace and quiet' — and to buy local produce. We also walked through the nearby Mostnica Gorge, full of emerald pools and complex rock formations, and the Vintgar Gorge, like something from a fairytale with its crystal clear water rushing between mossy rocks. At the end was Sum waterfall, where we took a freezing cold dip that had our hearts beating and endorphins flowing. Our hotel in this area was Vila Planinka, a 22-room boutique hotel with a sauna that guests can hire privately (no awkward nude interactions here) and wood-clad rooms reminiscent of a luxury ski lodge. One afternoon we hired mountain bikes and cycled through the valley, eventually cooling off in the man-made heart-shaped lake in the middle of the valley, which was created by locals in the 1950s in homage to a larger glacial lake that had long ago drained away. Afterwards, we pushed on to Ank's waterfalls for another extremely cold dip in some small plunge pools, and visited a famous mineral water spring, Jezerska Slatina, in a rural spot nearby, which is said to have the highest magnesium content of all mineral waters in Slovenia and which can be drunk from a tap pouring into a wooden trough. Dubbed 'healing water', it tasted a little like flat San Pellegrino and we gulped it down for our health. • 24 of Europe's best adventure holidays for all types of thrillseeker The food was special too. At Vila Planinka, guests are served four-course menus designed daily by the chef with everything sourced locally. We loved the beef broth with Slovenian pasta and a pickled quail egg, as well as a delicious strawberry soup served with sour-cream ice cream. Our final stop was Piran, a picturesque seaside town in the style of nearby Venice and once part of the Venetian empire. The weather had turned for this portion of the trip, so we spent much of it in the indoor pool (and the obligatory naked saunas) at our hotel, the Kempinski Palace Portoroz, a much grander and more opulent residence than our previous hotels. Eventually, one last sliver of sunshine appeared and we made it to Moon Bay, a pebble beach with crystal-clear water, encircled by cliffs within the Strunjan Nature Reserve, which Ally and I had swum from together in 2018. Sitting on a rock with our toes dangling in the sea, we reflected on all the ways our lives had changed since then, how lucky we felt to have returned, more dedicated to swimming than ever, and how peaceful we'd felt for the past few days. Then we dived in together and enjoyed one last swim. This time, the water was Petter was a guest of Vila Planinka, which has B&B doubles from £258 ( Kempinski Palace Portoroz, which has B&B doubles from £219 ( and Hotel Bohinj, which has B&B doubles from £219 ( Fly to Ljubljana
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
The 'outrageously' pretty lake named one of Europe's most beautiful places to visit - and it's only a few hours from the UK
A little-known lake in Slovenia has been described as one of Europe's 'most beautiful' places to visit in 2025. Lake Bohinj picked up the accolade in a ranking of Europe's 15 best beauty spots by Lonely Planet. Spanning 318 hectares, Lake Bohinj is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia and is located in the country's Triglav National Park. It's often missed by tourists in Slovenia with many opting to explore nearby Lake Bled instead. However Lonely Planet says: 'You'd think no lake could possibly upstage [Lake Bled] but then you reach nearby Lake Bohinj, a lake so outrageously beautiful you gasp out loud. 'It makes a spectacular splash in the mountain-buckled Triglav National Park in the country's northwest, where peaks rise sheer, rugged and forested above blue-green waters.' And it's not just Lonely Planet that's raving about Bohinj. A tourist writes on Tripadvisor: 'This is a beautiful alpine lake in the mountains. There is a hiking path around the lake that is about 12km (8 miles).' Another visitor says: 'Hidden gem of natural beauty and eco-friendly lifestyle. We've returned numerous times. We'll be back.' The lake's glass-like clear water makes it the ideal spot for swimming, kayaking and canoeing. Lonely Planet recommends that tourists base themselves in Ukanc, a town on the western end of Lake Bohinj. From there, visitors can take a ride in the cable car up to Vogel which offers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains. And don't miss Savica Waterfall, a breathtaking 78m (255 feet) waterfall which cascades through a gorge. History fans can visit the 700-year-old Church of St. John the Baptist which sits on the shore of the lake. The historic church is a fantastic example of Slovenian medieval architecture and mural painting. It's open daily between April and October. For a quirky day out, head to the Alpine Dairy Farming Museum which has a preserved cheese-making workshop. To reach Bohinj British tourists can fly from London to Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, in just over two hours. The lake is around one hour's drive from the capital while buses take around two hours. Looking to explore a hidden gem this summer? easyJet has just launched flights to a beautiful Mediterranean island. Located off the coast of Tunisia, Djerba is known for its white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
